Summer Health

Here in New Zealand, November often begins to show us the first little hints of summer. And with it just around the corner, not only are the days getting longer but the weather is definitely warmer. For many of us, we’ll begin to crawl out of winter hibernation mode and start to feel the urge to get outside, get some sun and move our bodies more. But have you ever noticed that the foods you crave tend to change around this time of year too?

Instead of those warm comforting and heavy meals – suitable for cold nights, we tend to think more of lighter, fresh and cooling meals – such as salads and antipasti. We might be swapping the hot porridge for bircher and even hot lunches for smoothies.

This has been a natural evolution over thousands of years as humans needed to adapt to changing seasons to survive and thrive throughout the year. Human diet has always been driven by availability.

And so, if you’re looking to have a bit more pep in your step leading into the summer months, my number one bit of advice is, as always – to listen to your body. All the foods your body craves this time of year will snap you out of hibernation mode and spring you into summer.

Here are a few tips to get you started.

If you haven’t already, do some investigating into the location of the nearest farmers market. This will be the best place to get tasty seasonal veggies and the most colourful varieties of lettuce and other salad fillings. They will often be better prices than your supermarket as well.

No farmers market? Access to fresh veggies limited? Have a go at growing your own. You don’t need a lot of land and there are some great little raised garden beds available from most garden stores.

A nice cool smoothie on a warm sticky morning is just the trick to energise and get you moving. Better yet – add some Good Green Vitality to your smoothie to tick all the nutritional boxes and help to energise you.

Get creative with salads. Salads can be incredibly boring and not very satiating, to be honest. Always make sure your salad has a good amount of protein from meat, fish, eggs. For those who don’t partake, legumes or nuts and seeds are a great addition. Having some carbs in there can also increase fibre and keep us fuller for longer – try some roasted beetroot, or kumara or even some cooked brown rice. As always, a good lashing of olive oil and cider vinegar can jazz up any salad.

Enjoy these longer days, move your bodies in ways that make you feel amazing and enjoy the many beaches that New Zealand has to offer. Remember, you don’t need a specific body shape to enjoy the beach – if you’ve got a body, and you’ve got a beach, you’ve already got a beach body, enjoy!

My Everyday Summer Smoothie

• 1 1/2 cups milk of choice
• 1 Tbsp peanut butter
• 1 Serve Nuzest Smooth Vanilla Clean Lean Protein
• 1 Serve Nuzest Good Green Vitality
• ½ cup frozen blueberries
• A small pinch of sea salt (trust me)

** If you want your smoothie thicker – add a little bit of avocado too.

The information provided in this article is intended for educational purposes only and is general advice. It should not, nor is it intended to be, relied on as a substitute for individual medical advice or care. If the contents of this, or any other of the blogs in this series raises any concerns or questions regarding your health, please consult a qualified healthcare practitioner.